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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-01-12 PC MINS MINUTES OF THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION OF CHULA VISTA, CALIFORNIA 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 12, 2005 Council Chambers Public Services Building 275 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista ROLL CALU MOTIONS TO EXCUSE: Present: Absent: Cortes, Felber, Hom, Hall O'Neill, Madrid Staff Present: Nancy Lytle, Assistant Planning Director Luis Hernandez, Development Planning Manager Michael Walker, Associate Planner Harold Phelps, Associate Planner Ann Pease, Associate Planner Dave Hanson, Deputy City Attorney II MSC (Cortes/Felber) (4-0-2-0) to excuse the Commissioners who are absent. Motion carried. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/SILENT PRAYER INTRODUCTORY REMARKS: Read into the record by Chair Cortes ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: No public input. 1. PUBLIC HEARING: PCC 04-72; Consideration of a Conditional Use Permit to construct and operate an unmanned wireless telecommunications facility at 4340 Main Street. Background: Michael Walker reported that CingularWireless is proposing to construct a wireless facility at the Fiesta Plaza shopping center located at 4340 Main Street. The site has a land use designation of Neighborhood Commercial. The proposal consists of a 60-foot tall faux pine tree that will support 12 antenna arrays and the site will include a 336 square foot equipment shelter. Staff Recommendation: That the Planning Commission adopt Resolution PCC 04-72 approving the proposed wireless telecommunications facility. Planning Commission Minutes - 2 - January 12, 2005 Public Hearing Opened. Doug Munson, P.O. Box 461952, Escondido, CA 92146 representing Cingular Wireless pointed out that they looked at other sites and selected the proposed site because it gave them the service coverage they needed and the proposed monopine is co-locatable and enables them to support another carrier. Mr. Munson thanked the Commission for their consideration of the proposal and stated he was available to answer questions. Public Hearing Closed. MSC (Felber/Horn) (4-0-2-0) that the Planning Commission adopt Resolution PCC 04-72 approving the proposed wireless telecommunications facility. Motion carried. 2. PUBLIC HEARING: PCC 04-70; Consideration of a Conditional Use Permit for Cingular Wireless to construct a wireless telecommunications facility at 545 East Naples Street. Background: Ann Pease reported that Cingular Wireless is proposing to install a 50 foot high monopine, concealing 12 antenna arrays and the construction of a 12' X 28' equipment shelter on the church property located at 545 East Naples Street. The facility will provide needed service coverage to residents and businesses of Chula Vista. The surrounding uses are single-family residences to the north, south and east, and the church is to the west. A row of single-family homes is at a distance of more than 120 feet from the proposed installation site. Ms. Pease pointed out that currently Nextel Corporation operates a wireless facility on the church property and has four concealed antennas mounted on an existing bell tower. In an effort to mitigate visual impacts, the applicant is proposing to provide landscaping material utilizing 35 foot tall Aleppo pine trees, as well as 15 to 5 gallon shrubs surrounding the equipment room and monopine. The required 500 foot radius noticing requirement was done and more than 100 notices were mailed to the surrounding residences inviting them to a public meeting at the church facility to discuss the proposed project. Only three residents attended the meeting, one of which expressed some concern, however, at the end of the question and answer period, walked away satisfied that her concerns had been adequately Planning Commission Minutes - 3 - January 12, 2005 addressed. It should be noted that since this meeting, one additional neighbor contacted City staff expressing concern with the project. The applicant was informed of this and asked to contact the concerned resident. Staff Recommendation: That the Planning Commission adopt Resolution PCC 04-70 approving the installation of a monopine with 12 antenna arrays and equipment shelter located at 545 East Naples Street subject to conditions contained therein. Public Hearing Opened. Joan Bonner, 626 Mariposa Circle, Chula Vista, CA stated she lives directly north of the church property. Ms. Bonner explained that due to on-going personal matters related to her elderly parent, she was unaware of the public meeting that was held at the church. Ms. Bonner also indicated that she received a simulated photo from Cingular Wireless depicting a 30 to 32 foot high monopine and is disappointed now to learn that the proposed monopine will be 50 feet tall. She is concerned with the shadowing effect that such a large tree will have on her back yard, noise nuisance and the landscaping material that has been selected, which she is allergic to. She further indicated that she went around her neighborhood and collected over 20 signatures of residents who oppose the proposal because of its height. Commission Discussion: Cmr. Horn inquired what the distance was between Ms. Bonner's property line and the monopine. Mr. Hom further inquired if the applicant had considered co-locating on the bell tower structure. Ms. Pease responded that it is approximately 50 feet. Mr. Munson responded that co-locating was considered, however, it was quickly determined that the structural requirements and height needs in order to provide the needed coverage could not be met by the existing bell tower. Mr. Munson stated that one of the constraints to the proposed site is that it is surrounded by residential neighborhoods. He pointed out that other sites were considered, such as the adjacent park, however, it did not provide the needed coverage to the north and would require them to locate yet another site to the north, which is also all single-family residential. Therefore, they gravitated more towards the proposed site because it is large and there are two churches next to each other. One of the churches to the west has a Sprint facility with the antenna arrays mounted on the steeple and the other church has a Nextel facility. The nearby park was also looked into, unfortunately, it also did not provide the coverage needs to the north. Mr. Munson also noted that, for the most part, most carriers are reluctant to go into residential neighborhoods because they are met with opposition. Planning Commission Minutes - 4 - January 12, 2005 Mr. Munson pointed out that the Federal Communications Commission requires them to solve and provide coverage needs throughout the market in a timely fashion. Mr. Munson stated that he is most agreeable to looking into a different type of tree specie to replace the proposed pine trees. Public Hearing Closed. MSC (Cortes/Horn) (4-0-3-0) that the Planning Commission continue public hearing to an undetermined date in order to allow the applicant the opportunity to continue refining their proposal and address some of the concerns raised by the residents. Motion carried. 3. PUBLIC HEARING: PCA 05-01; Consideration of an amendment to the Chula Vista Municipal Code Section 19.58.340 to regulate temporary storage, collection and loading of recyclable materials and solid waste. Consideration of a new Recycling and Solid Waste Planning Manual. Background: Lynn France reported that the State of California passed AB 939 requiring cities and counties to divert 50% of the waste going to landfills. Shortly after that law was passed, the State found that the lack of adequate space was a deterrent to recycling, therefore, they passed another law (AB 1327) known as the California Solid Waste Reuse and Recycling Access Act of 1991. This law required that jurisdictions adopt a space allocation ordinance by March 1, 1993 or adopt the State's model ordinance. Chula Vista did not adopt its own ordinance, therefore, the State's model ordinance took effect, but was never codified in the Municipal Code. Ms. France stated that the Waste Board and the Legislature became frustrated with the lack of enforcement of the space allocation requirements, and they decided to attach another bill (AB 2176) to AB 1327. AB 2176 is a large venue and large event recycling bill, which states that jurisdictions shall withhold building permits for projects that do not have appropriate space allocated for recycling and solid waste. For the Commission's consideration tonight, is the ordinance amendment for Chapter 19.58.340 of the Chula Vista Municipal Code that satisfies State laws. Staff has prepared a Recycling and Solid Waste Planning Manual, which tells applicants, planners, developers and architects what the minimum space allocation requirements are. Staff Recommendation: That the Planning Commission adopt resolution PCA 05-01 recommending that the City Council approve the Chula Vista Municipal Code Planning Commission Minutes - 5 - January 12, 2005 amendment and Recycling and Solid Waste Planning Manual. Commission Discussion: Cmr. Felber inquired if this applied to multi-family units only or also on single family homes. Ms. France responded that this applies to any project that is over $20,000, so basically it applies to everyone; single family, multi-family and commercial. Public Hearing opened and closed. MSC (Felber/Hall) (4-0-3-0) that the Planning Commission adopt resolution PCA 05-01 recommending that the City Council approve the Chula Vista Municipal Code amendment and Recycling and Solid Waste Planning Manual. Motion carried. 4. PUBLIC HEARING: PCS 05-08; Consideration of a Tentative Map to subdivide 6.95 acres at 1441 Santa Lucia Road into one-lot condominium parcel containing 168 residential units. Background: Harold Phelps reported that the Tentative Map that is being considered tonight proposes a condominium conversion for The Crossings apartment complex at Otay Ranch. The project site consists of an existing 168 unit apartment complex in Village One (Heritage Village) of Otay Ranch and is surrounded by the Village Core elements like the park, commercial town center, as well as other single-family and multi-family residential land uses. The Crossings Apartments consist of 11 three-story residential structures that were approved by DRC and were built in 2001. The pool, picnic and tot lots areas are either being retained or upgraded. As part of the conversion process, storage shelves will be provided in each of the units. If approved, The Crossings will be the first condominium product offered in Heritage Village One. The Camden Sierra apartment complex across the street has already been entitled to convert to for-sale condominiums in the future should they choose to. The remaining apartment complexes that will be located in Otay Ranch will be the Pinnacles in Village One and Terracina in Village Five. Staff Recommendation: That the Planning Commission recommend to the City Council adoption of the resolution approving the Tentative Subdivision Map for a one-lot condominium map for 168-units based on finding and subject to conditions contained Planning Commission Minutes - 6 - January 12, 2005 therein. Commission Discussion: Cmr. Horn stated that a representative from the Doug Wilson Company contacted him and he accepted an invitation to take him on a tour of their project. Cmr. Hall asked for clarification on granting the exception to the storage requirements. Harold Phelps clarified that the exception is relating to the location of the storage, where the code says that 70% of the storage must be contiguous to the actual unit and in this case, most of the storage is located in the garages. Section 15.56.070 allows for exceptions to the storage requirements based upon overall project acceptability. Staff believes that an exception can be made because there is sufficient cubic storage space overall on average for the majority of the 168 units. Cmr. Cortes inquired if the current condo conversion momentum will destabilize the housing balance between single-family residences, condominiums, and apartment complexes. Mr. Phelps responded that he did not have that information available, but indicated that the Housing Division of Community Development is compiling an analysis addressing this issue and will be considered prior to the adoption of the Housing Element, which is expected to be completed later this year. Public Hearing Opened. Terry Plowden, with Douglas Wilson Company representing the applicant stated that they conducted a survey of the available apartment complexes within a five mile radius and found that there are 8,000 apartment units within a five mile radius. Mr. Plowden further stated that their project will be affordable in that their housing units will start at $270,000. Mr. Plowden stated that in accordance with the City of Chula Vista guidelines and the Subdivision Map Act, they have notified the tenants of their intent to convert to condominiums. A tenant meeting was held recently, which had a good turn-out and there are now approximately 40 residents that are in the process of being pre-qualified. Public Hearing Closed. MSC (Cortes/Horn) (4-0-2-0) that the Planning Commission recommend to the City Council adoption of the resolution approving the Tentative Subdivision Map for a one-lot condominium map for 168-units based on finding and subject to conditions contained therein. Motion carried. Planning Commission Minutes - 7 - January 12, 2005 BUSINESS: DIRECTOR'S REPORT: . Luis Hernandez reviewed the schedule of upcoming meetings. ADJOURNMENT at 8:05 p.m. ~~ ',~ ~~ Cl-<-J<) Diana Vargas, Secretary to Planning Commission